When you should turn to be a proactive from being passive?

These days being an action star employee has double edges as more and more companies looking for staff that’s not only follower, but also an enabler. In fact on most job ads, employers are definite in looking for “proactive,” “reliable,” and can do tasks with “minimal supervision” workers. However some career experts agreed that proactivity should practice depending on the culture or situation. So when is the right time to switch from being reactive to proactive, or vice versa?

According to The British Psychological Society (BPS); acting in advance, self-starter, future-oriented, and making a difference are some of the components of proactive behavior. This behavior is good because mostly those who get job promotions and compensate higher salary are the proactive people. Furthermore, companies reap benefits from them especially when they adapt to changes and face stiff competitions in business world.

However BPS warns company leaders should also be cautious in practicing proactivity. This is because proactive behavior becomes a liability when it goes against the values and interests of their companies. Apart from this they may cause stress as some become threats to their colleagues and focusing only on developing their personal career.

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“Unchecked, this may lead to increased work pressure and higher stress levels for employees,” BPS explained. “Second, proactive behaviour on the part of one employee can lead to threatening other employees’ current or future resources. “

Meantime, Eat Your Career (a division of her CCS Ventures, LLC) shared that proactive is “a way of thinking and acting.” Possessing this quality or mentality is beneficial for workplace, but it’s also worthy to note that there are cases that people should be just be reactive.

“Certainly, there are times when it’s appropriate to be reactive. We have plenty of decisions to make in-the-moment. There are times when we need to be flexible and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. There are times when long-term plans must be abandoned in order to meet immediate needs. And there will always be those unavoidable roadblocks that even the most proactive person in the world would not have been able to foresee or avoid,” certified career coach and corporate trainer Chrissy Scivicque shared on Eat Your Career.

Scivicque also stated that predict, prevent, plan, participate, and perform are “The 5 P’s” to become proactive at work.